BRIGHT BLESSINGS

To bring joy, care and hope to homeless and impoverished children by mobilizing community volunteers of all ages 2010 - present 2010 - present The Mission Bright Blessings first began in 2005 as a monthly birthday program for children staying at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Charlotte, North Carolina. The organization's founders, John and Amy Cervantes, wanted to help brighten the lives of needy children while also instilling a love and commitment for community service in their own young children. For nearly three years, the Cervantes family threw birthday celebrations every month for hundreds of homeless children at the Center, adding educational and enrichment activities to their program and also providing the kids with gifts, new books and basic care essentials. In March of 2008, the family decided to incorporate their program as a not-for-profit charity with a twofold mission of engaging volunteers of all ages to help brighten the lives of needy children across the greater Charlotte metro area. Today, Bright Blessings remains a volunteer-led organization that will impact more than 5,000 homeless and impoverished children this year through its core programs, Bless-A-Birthday, Bless-A-Baby, Gift of Literacy and Gift of Care.